Mahopac racist remarks not new, some say

A former New Rochelle High School athlete and area fans say that Mahopac players' alleged use of racial slurs during a recent boys basketball playoff game is nothing new.

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Joe Clarke, who plays for Dean College in Franklin, Mass., said Mahopac players in both sports called him the ‘N-word.’ New Rochelle's Clarke goes up for a shot against Mahopac during the boys basketball Section 1 semifinal championship game at the Westchester County Center in White Plains on March 1, 2013.(Photo: Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News)Buy Photo

It could be considered an isolated incident — racist words uttered at a high-pressure, win-or-season-over basketball game.

But a former New Rochelle High School athlete and area fans said this week that Mahopac players' alleged use of racial slurs during a recent boys basketball playoff game was nothing new.

And New Rochelle's athletic director confirmed he spoke during the past school year to Mahopac's athletic director after post-game Twitter comments got "so bad."

Mahopac has suspended eight students — none from the basketball team — for racially-charged tweets posted after the team fell to Mount Vernon 43-40 on Feb. 27 in the Section 1 Class AA semifinals at the Westchester County Center.

Mount Vernon has also alleged that Mahopac players used on-court racial slurs.

Mahopac schools Superintendent Thomas Manko said the district has interviewed more than 40 people but has found no evidence this occurred.

But former New Rochelle football and basketball player Joe Clarke, who plays both sports for Dean College in Franklin, Mass., said Mahopac players in both sports called him the "N-word."

"No other school but Mahopac," said Clarke, who played both sports for four years at New Rochelle.

Clarke, who said he experienced no problems with Mahopac players until his senior year, said at one point during a football game at Mahopac in 2012, he caught a pass, was tackled and then, while on the bottom of a pile of players, was scratched, punched and called the N-word.

"I just feel the school should put an end to it," he said.

New Rochelle Athletic Director Steve Young said he called Mahopac Athletic Director John Augusta about the game after "things got pretty bad on Twitter."

He described what was said to his players as "nasty" but added, "I can't prove that the N-word was said."

Manko, who was not in his office Friday and did not have his office records, couldn't confirm whether any students were suspended regarding either past tweets or on-field/court actions during the New Rochelle games or as the result of students throwing water bottles at a White Plains cheerleading bus last fall.

"It's not like I'm hearing about these things for the first time today," Manko said.

But, he added, "Each incident was a unique and separate incident. .. I don't see a consistent pattern of behavior."

"We have some people — like all communities — who make poor choices. We can't control that but we can continue to educate," Manko said. "Ninety-nine point nine percent of students are outraged (by what occurred with Mount Vernon). It's hurtful to think Mahopac is being characterized by the actions of a few."

But White Plains fan J.R. Bergman, who noted he attended the game at which the water bottles were later thrown, said, "Mahopac is developing a very bad reputation."

"No one's perfect. Only the man upstairs is perfect. But this has to stop. To threaten adults or children over a sporting event is ridiculous," Bergman said.

Manko and Augusta said, though, the blame isn't solely Mahopac's.

"It's an unfortunate thing. It's sad we're still talking (about racist remarks) in 2014. But both sides are to blame and should own it equally," Augusta said, referring to the Mount Vernon game.

In addition to a Mahopac cheerleader being hit on the head after the game (she was uninjured), Augusta said, "There were some slurs by some Mount Vernon spectators toward our cheerleaders."

"We're holding our kids accountable here," Augusta added.

Both he and Manko said they expect Mount Vernon to investigate their fans' behavior and to take action.

Manko added Mahopac had taken a "strong and severe stance" against the recent tweets, which he said, "can in no way be defended."

State Sen. Greg Ball, R-Patterson, issued a statement that read in part, "Let it be clear, Mount Vernon is equally responsible for the toxic environment that was unfortunately created. Yet unlike Mahopac, Mount Vernon has yet to take action to hold their fan base and students accountable. Two wrongs never make a right, yet unlike Mount Vernon, Mahopac immediately took the accusations seriously and the district has used their appropriate authority to hold the individuals involved accountable."

But New Rochelle parent Dawn Ganley questioned whether Mahopac is doing all it can to discourage racism.

Ganley, whose son, Ray, recently completed his freshman year on SUNY-Cortland's football team, said she called Augusta after the 2012 Mahopac-New Rochelle football game to complain about use of the N-word.

Ganley, who described herself as white and Irish, said she expected an apology to New Rochelle and said Augusta promised "appropriate action."

"I don't understand why this wasn't addressed last year. If I'd done more last year, maybe this would not have happened this year," Ganley said, characterizing the N-word as "horrible" and "bullying."

"I'm very mad at the athletic director. He swept it under the carpet," she said, adding of Augusta, "To me, he's just as much to blame as the players."

Augusta, who said he spoke to at least four sets of New Rochelle parents after the football game, said, "One (Mahopac) child did say, in the heat of the moment, he did say (the N-word on the field)."

Augusta, who said he consulted with school social workers and the regional safety coordinator for Putnam-Northern Westchester BOCES, said he didn't recall how the player was punished but said it would have been in accordance with Mahopac's code of conduct.

Friday, Mahopac administrators reported speaking to all students about what had occurred regarding the Mount Vernon game.

A letter emailed to parents and students in the school district stated "Our reputation has been tarnished by these recent events. As a school community, we will have to work hard to remove this tarnish. All of us will be watched closely in the weeks, months and years ahead to see if racism truly is pervasive in our school community. We contend that it is not."

"I hope we can move forward and use this as a teaching tool," Young offered.

He indicated, though, this can't be a one-man job.

"John Augusta is a very nice guy. I like him and respect him," Young said. "But sometimes it's beyond one person changing a whole culture."